Cee Lo Releases Statement Addressing 'Homophobic' Tweet

By Tracey Harrington McCoy Posted Jun 20th 2011 10:00PM

Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee Lo Green has released a statement regarding a controversial tweet he made on Friday, apologizing for questioning the sexuality of a music critic who wrote a negative review of his Minneapolis, Minn. opening performance.

After City Pages music editor Andrea Swensson called his opening performance during Rihanna's June 16 Loud tour stop in Minneapolis, Minn. "lackluster" and "gross," Cee Lo took his feelings to Twitter, accusing her of being gay, and echoing the refrain of his recent hit song, 'F--- You.'

"I respect your criticism, but be fair! People enjoyed last night!" Cee Lo wrote. "I'm guessing you're gay? And my masculinity offended you? Well f--- you!"

Cee Lo then semi-apologized for the tweet, which he quickly deleted, in yet another tweet that he also quickly deleted. "Apologies gay community! what was homophobic about that? I said I was guessing he way gay which is fine but its nice to what u think of me," he wrote.

Following his tweets, Cee Lo sent a prepared statement to Us Weekly, claiming his statements were really "all in good fun," and that he wasn't aware of Swensson's gender -- because there are so many male Andrea's these days -- when he called her gay.

"At the time I didn't even know what gender the person was," the former Goodie Mob rapper began. "I was being a little outspoken that night, a little outrageous. I always expect people to assume that everything I do is part of my character and sense of humor. I assumed that whoever it was would assume it was all in good fun."

The 'Crazy' singer continued to explain that, not only is he "one of the most liberal artists," he also shares the stage with two "proud and outspokenly gay" cast members on his show 'The Voice,' and therefore can hardly be considered a homophobe (where have we heard this defense before?).

"I most certainly am not harboring any sort of negative feeling toward the gay community," Cee Lo continued. "I don't have an opinion on people with different religious, sexual or political preferences. I'm one of the most liberal artists that I think you will ever meet, and I pride myself on that. Two of the remaining members that I have on my team on The Voice are proud and outspokenly gay. We just did a team performance of 'Everyday People,' and I picked that song for us to do specifically to highlight how we can get along even though we're so different."

Swensson responded to Cee Lo's tweet, saying that she is "not inclined to take offense."

Cee Lo is the second cast member of 'The Voice' to run into trouble for making seemingly homophobic comments on Twitter, following country singer Blake Shelton's gaffe in early May.

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Comments

(23)

Monday 20 June

By bluuizzz

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Well, this makes 2 homophobic people on The Voice..Blake Shelton is beyond belief and even Tracey Morgan is creepy...they can apologize all they want but at the end of the day, they have shown their true inner sides which can't be taken back...pathetic people, all 3 of them!

By will

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Ce lo Green has got alot of nerve mocking someone out. He is so fat and out of shape he barely can walk. Like Tracy Morgan...another racist black. Wheres the tree when you need one?

Tuesday 21 June

By Lisa

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"Where's a tree when you need one"! Wow ur a dirt bag!

By ilea

Wow, Will, you, Grace and Luke are mentally disterbed.

By rambrewster

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What a joik, what a maroon!!!

By gatsby10021

"masculinity"?? Who is he kidding?

By cokeandpilates

What an ignorant thing to say. Im laughing at the part about his "masculinity offending anyone" because he's like 4 feet tall, about 250lbs and the back of his neck looks like a pack of hot dogs. Yeah, Cee Lo, you're one sexy mothertrucker, whatever...

By jay

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For what's it worth, in his "explanation" he did say it was his sense of humor. If you know much about his career, he has always been out there a bit. Google some of his early images(goodie mob) and you'll see what i mean

By stu

Swensson (music editor) called him "gross". Good eye!
His masculinity matches Ellton John from that bird costume.

By Joe

OK....so, he's saying he's NOT gay? He was like a big ol' queen at the Grammys wearing that Elton John outfit. Anyone who criticizes him he goes off like a crybaby. He needs to get thicker skin AND grow up.

By actiondan99

Why is it so bad to speak out against gay people? Or say negative things? This country is way to PC.

By Mike

Oh, so it's open season?! Let's start with the blacks, move on to the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans and then we can finish off with the Asians! I mean, what's the big deal?! I'm tired of "being PC" too!

By Grace

What is the big freakin' deal? Y'all act like he killed somebody or something, please!

If that's his worse, then LAME is his middle name.

By pogoboy

Gee...I love Cee's music but I've always thought he was gay. Certainly sounds and looks it.

By JoeyO'H

Cee Lo is a little man with a big mouth. All he needs is one big masculine gay man to knock him down. And there are plenty of gay man that are more masculine then some straight men.

Green is just another little, round racist pig. Karma is a b^tch!

Gays can dish it out? It's more like str8's (like you) dish it out the hatred more than anyone. So what you're saying is very uneducated. I didn't know they had internet service in the Ozarks!

Obviously your parents did a lousy job at raising you.

By Ben

I honestly thought Cee Lo was gay.
As far as the haters... what a waste of air.

By wee wee-wee

ever notice he looks like a midget on gamma rays?

By Melissa

Ed is the President of the Cher fan club. He also owns all of Madonna's music on album AND CD! Ed is also addicted to reruns of "Will & Grace" and craves Judy Garland movies! Happy Gay Pride Month, Ed! You are fabulous!

Yes Melissa Ed is a serious closet case. & sad to say that closet is in his parents basement where he lives. Lets pray for him.

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